Finding the Neighbours stash....

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Naked in your cupboard
This is going to sound a bit odd, but stick with me and trust I was trying to do good.

:)

Before Christmas a neighbour had a house fire and lost everything.

Years ago I only owned a Garrett Sea Hunter that was a PI machine (still have it), and it came up in conversation with this neighbour,
he asked me to bring it over to check something.
A couple of days later I turned up and he asked me to check the ceiling around the 'manhole' as he may have hidden some jewellery in the ceiling.
I told him that it would pick up everything including nails so would not give a good indication.

Later we went into the back yard and he asked to check for the same thing under the pavers, about 15-20 square meters, so I did with no result,
but only where he pointed.

About 2 years later I bought 2x ACE 250's but never returned to check anything.

So fast forward to present, the house ceiling is flat on the floor in ashes, half of the house is demolished and the job stopped because SafeWork is
pinging the Contractor for illegal asbestos removal, no sensors and the site is at standstill for a week now.

Alex is severely depressed and unreachable because his family is thinking it will help him, to be shielded, but he needs to socialise to recover.

I remembered about a week ago that there may be a hidden spot under the pavers, and if he did stash some gear there, and I found it before the
Demolition crew did, I could return it to him and maybe lift his spirits. :)

So Kato and I got organised and headed down, to be greeted by SafeWork. Some discussions and we were warned off "Not safe, Not stable" etc
But with a wink ;)

Two days alter we headed down again and set about clearing the area from all the stuff that had been thrown about - Alex had not returned,
so everything was still in his shed and half of it dragged out and gone thru.

We cleared the area and started the search, Kato with the CTX and me following up with the ACE.
CTX is very sensitive, we had no idea what to expect, but it found a water pipe and an odd area of 8 pavers. My turn with the ACE found the water
pipe and gave a more solid hit over the 8 pavers.

We took Kato's pick along, the "Little Brother" from bluejeansronald, then I used the pointy end to smash into a corner of a paver and prise the edge
of the paver up after hammering into the corner a few times to get depth. Didnt take long and the point pinged out a few times, sparks and all,
but the paver did come out.

Shameless plug here for Ron.
Got to say that this is a SUPER well made tool, solid as and absolutely NO damage to the point, no blunting, not deformation, no cracks !!
I am really impressed, I will order another when I can, for the price delivered you cant go wrong.
Kato has been impressed with it too, she does a lot of digging too.
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=533143#p533143

Back to the hunt.
So we lifted a paver and saw an odd strip of 90 angle tin, pulled pavers from its length, 4 of them. Started on the next row and lifted the strip of
metal out, as soon as the next paver came out, we could see a hole going down about the size of a finger. Finished pulling the next row and revealed
an open edge to a large space under the pavers. Pulled out a third row to reveal the entire excavation, frame work and brick support.
YES, we found his stash hole !!

BUT unfortunately after exhaustive checking with hands, torch, pin pointer and coil, there was not even 1 item in there. :/
We both felt disappointed for Alex, the story was that he hid stuff when going on holidays and forgot where the paver was located..
NOW we know where, but nothing to show.

I may still carefully enter the house and swing over the floor, in case something pops up - or maybe not.

We took some pics and closed it up again, for the Contractors to find after the long investigation and they pay their $20K fine. :8

1586513602_img_20200405_181101.jpg


Kato's new boots, steel toe caps - :Y:
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1586513603_img_20200405_181349.jpg


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goldtrapper said:
No signals in the dirt at the bottom of the hole?
Great story. Thanks.

Yeah... lid to the stairwell/ladder got a bit of dirt over the top of it :eek:
 
I saw Alex's granddaughter in Coles the other day, we had a conversation re the 'Stash Hole', she was aware of the scenario and then added that the Grandparents
also hid her Moms wedding ring and some other jewellery before a trip to Italy, and it was forgotten as to where it was located.
So two lost stashes now !

I told her that the demolition guys were there, she didnt even know that and she had lived with them until the night of the fire, it saddened her.
Seems like there are some family issues going on.

Anyway I told her the plan when the Demo guys were finished and hoped we would find something for the family...

To be continued.

:/
 
Well the site is fully cleared now, the hidy hole was found and filled, the cellar under the shed is filled with dirt.

Kato has gone over the block with her CTX and cant find anything of significance. :(

Alex has not been replying to calls, so I guess that's all there is to it.

Maybe we will go and swing later.

:Y:
 

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